Portland is situated in Northwestern Oregon where the Willamette River joins the Columbia River on its way to the Pacific Ocean. It is known as the "City of Roses" - as the home of the world famous International Rose Test Gardens in Washington Park as well as for the annual Rose Festival each June. Because Portland is surrounded by water, it is a city of bridges: 11 beautiful spans across the Willamette River and two which cross the Columbia to Washington. Our waterways are among the cleanest in the nation; pleasure craft mingle with barges, and houseboats line both waterways.
The population of the metropolitan Portland area is 1.7 million people. Approximately 1/2 million people reside within the city limits; suburban cities such as Gresham, Beaverton, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Hillsboro and West Linn account for much of the balance.
Portland's winters are usually mild with little snowfall. Summer temperatures are moderate, rarely rising above 80 degrees. The much-ballyhooed rain falls mostly as a gentle mist. Portland has less rain than most eastern cities with an annual average of 36 inches.
It is also just 70 miles west of Mt. Hood, Oregon's highest mountain, which offers the only lift-serviced summer skiing in the U.S. Close by is the beautiful Oregon coast where you can enjoy more than 400 miles of public beaches, whale-watching, and charter fishing.
Portland is quickly gaining a reputation for world class restaurants and an extraordinary music scene. Also, within an hour's drive of Portland's city center is one of the world's outstanding wine-producing regions with tasting rooms open to the public year-round.
You truly can experience the best of both worlds in Portland: the convenience and activities of a large city with the friendly personality of a small community. If you're interested in quality of life, consider Portland - the livable city.